Girls Varsity Soccer Season Ends in Semifinal Thriller
By LOGAN BREEN
SUNY Institute for Local News
ONEONTA
The Oneonta High School Yellowjackets girls varsity soccer team held the second seed in the recent sectional semifinals. A crushing loss at home on October 29 against third-seeded Watkins Glen, however, ended their season.
The Yellowjackets lost to the Lake Hawks 3-4. It was a scrappy back-and-forth match that required extra-time to determine a winner. The Lake Hawks ultimately edged out the win on a last-minute goal that sent the Watkins Glen team to the New York State Section IV Athletics Class B Girls Soccer Championship.
Right off the opening kick, OHS took quick control of the game. They scored the opening goal within the first minute, with superb passing from Nora Sander giving sophomore Carly Stamas an open shot. Stamas’ shot looked like an easy save for the Lake Hawks keeper, though the ball slipped through her hands.
Up 1-0 early, the Yellowjackets team was clearly hopefully. And the home crowd seemed confident that their girls would cruise to a victory. The OHS side immediately got the ball back after the Lake Hawks opening kick, followed by a decent look at another goal.
Watkins Glen, however, quickly regrouped and ensured that this would not be a blow out. The Lake Hawks ran down the field with power. A great cross resulted in an equalizing goal.
The score was tied 1-1 and the game was still only four minutes in. After that quick start, the game slowed down. Possession swung between the two teams. Both sides had multiple great looks at goal, including a three-on-two break for the Lake Hawks. However, the Yellowjackets’ goalie, Desi Wheeler, made the save and kept the game tied. Wheeler, a senior, went on to have a total of 12 saves in the game.
With another great look at goal on a cross by OHS, the kick was overpowered and the ball flew over the post. Possession of the ball continued to switch constantly and the defenses prevented anything from getting through. Midway through the first half, it still could have been anyone’s game.
Then, with 16:30 left in the first half, Watkins Glens senior Ava Kelly took the ball down the pitch effortlessly, making OHS defenders miss the ball the whole time. Kelly scored the third goal of the game, making the score 1-2 with the visiting Lake Hawks in the lead.
The Yellowjackets got some good shots at goal after that, though they were not able to connect on any of them. At the end of the first half, the score was still 1-2 for the Lake Hawks.
The beginning of the second half promised a battle. Both teams continued to get good looks at goal. Yellowjackets freshman Sander was able to get a great cross in and Watkins Glen’s keeper mistimed the ball, allowing for freshman Lyla Hinchey to get a tap-in goal with 20:30 left in the game. The match was again tied at two goals apiece.
After OHS slipped up at the Watkins Glen end, the Lake Hawks took advantage with a successful counterattack. They ended up scoring on a great shot that Yellowjackets keeper Wheeler had no chance of saving. The score was 2-3 in favor of the visitors.
As some fans began to fear that all hope was lost for the Yellowjackets, a desperation cross ended up saving their season for the time being. The OHS girls were able to tap in another goal. This time it was Sander with the score, following a pair of assists on the Yellowjackets’ first two goals.
The match was leveled 3-3 with only two-minutes left in the second half. Nobody scored in the final minutes of regular time, forcing the playoff match into extra time.
The home team used the momentum of their late surge to continue putting on great shots at goal. The Lake Hawks’ keeper made tremendous save after save, keeping the visitors’ hopes alive. The game went into a second extra time with no score change.
OHS got extremely close to scoring again in the double overtime. However, their shot was once again denied by the keeper. The Lake Hawks were given a throw-in and junior Michaela Wheaton controlled the ball in the Yellowjackets’ box. She put the ball into the top right corner, ending the game with a 3-4 victory for Watkins Glen.
Oneonta High School fans were devastated, watching the Yellowjackets’ season end so close to a trip to the championship. The Yellowjackets varsity girls soccer team ended their season with a 3-2-1 record.
The Watkins Glen Lake Hawks lost to the Chenango Forks Blue Devils in the Section IV Class B Girls Soccer Championship game on November 1.
This story was created by student reporters through the OnNY Community Media Service, a program of SUNY Oneonta and the SUNY Institute for Local News.
